Container or box for fragile articles



J. R. NORTHWAY-LEY CONTAINER OR BOX FOR FRAGILE ARTICLES Filed .July 18, 1950' s Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 7, 1933. J. R. NORTHWAY-LEY CONTAINER OR BOX FOR FRAGILE ARTICLES Filed July 18, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 1933- J. R. NORTHWAY-LEY ,8 6,3

CONTAINER OR BOX FOR FRAGILE ARTiCLES Filed July 18, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Feb. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES roan Eastman) NORTHWAY-LEY, or meme-ea, mtis irbii; enemas; i ssreaea- To E. s; & anoiamson;nIMrTEir-or eetis'roif enemies CONTAINER on Box'roE rimermi AREIGLESE fipplication filed July' 18, 1930; Serial Nb. 468,958; andfin Great Britain September 28, 192 9.

7 This invention relates to containersor boxes for fragile articles, of the type where in an internal supporting unit is provided in which the article is positioned to" protect it" fromexternal shocks.

The invention has more particular reference to boxes and supporting units of the knock-down or collapsi ble kindi; V i

The object of the present invention is; to provide an improved formof internal sup porting; unit which may be manufactured very. cheaply is capable of production by a minimum of manufacturing steps, permits rapid packing of the articles while at the same time providing a unit which adequatelyprotects the article in transit and storage. The invention broadly consists in the prof vision of a unit of cardboard or other suitable-material folded upon itself and comprise ing two portions, adapted'when the unit is erected to occupy oppositely disposed positions,-one for locating or supporting the articletowardsone end (say, the spigot of a lamp) and the other portion for locating or supporting the article (say, the-lower portion of the bulb of a lamp) towards the other end thereof. 7

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which V Figure 1' is a View of a supporting unit formed from a single blank suitably shaped" Figure 2 is a View of a partially folded blank or unit with'an electric lamp in situ.

Figure 3 is a perspective-view of thesupporting unit bent into a position affording supportfor an electric lamp, and showing the positionit will occupy within a boX or carton.

Figure 4; isa modification of the unit shown in'FiguresQ and 3.

Figure 5 is a perspective View of the sup porting unit folded in the manner shown in Figures 3 and 4 and positioned Wlt-hlll'fi/ box or carton.

Figure 6 is a View of a modified form of; supporting unit formed from a slngle blank suitably shaped or creased.

Figure 7 is a-view ofthe blank shown 11] 59 Figure 6-partially folded.

Figtre' s is a itniviw or. the'su'pporting unit inFigu re's (Sand in; the position it will occupy with na box or carton.

Figure 9 is a View offa modified form of uppo i ne imtest e a e l n suitably shaped or creased; Y igur l ts a. Plan w tion'it 'will occiipywithin a box or carton. v

L'llhe supporting' unit may" be "made from a. sing e blank as. shown; in; Figi re' 1; the

blank bein cut train a eardboard sheet having a general ectan qnriouuineqr shape.

Thepartic'ul'ar form illustrated is"particu V larly suitable for use; with an electric light bulbf lbut' it may" befmodified to l conform to the shape' 'of anyotherarticle which it is desired to support. Furthermore, the actual contour may be inodifie'd *tdcoriform' to the c ubicallform and dimensions of thebox in which 7 the unit to be accommodated; consideration bein'gfalso taken of the change in outline. brought. about by folding. the. blank'f transversecent re linemay' confo m to the outline oflan', or be of sinuous" shape' from one endfthereofto the other; v r

I The blank is preferably formed'with creasing' lines 5 "wliich oin the outer extremities the incisions l for forming a hinging fold for thecentral. zoneor cradle6 and further scorings 7 are provided extending alon'gfthe centre line of the blank from? the ends to the creasingldine 5 joiningthe extremitic'sof the lateral incisions "for enabling the skirt portion's tofit closely into a'box in which the" support is' inserted.- in its" folded" condition;

When a box of square cross-section is employed the scorings 7 will occupy opposite corners of the box whilst the lateral edges of the skirt portion will fit into the other corners.

The folding of the blank is preferably effected simultaneously with the insertion of the lamp. The blank is shown in its folded or erected conditionin Figure 3 and in order to bring it to this position the lamp spigot is passed through the centralorifice '3 with the shoulders of the lamp abutting against that portion of the central zone or cradle 6 immediately surrounding the orifice. The central portion is then moved in a direction axially of the lamp as shown in Figure 2 so that the blank itself is folded about its transverse centralline2 and the central zone or' cradle 6 is hinged inwardly .or upwardly as viewed in thisfigure, and caused to occupy a posit-ion between the skirt portions 8 of the blank. The S or sinuous incisions 4afford a seating for the bulb endof the lamp which fit snugly its curvedsurface so that the lamp is positioned both axially and laterally, thus affording protection from age by lateral or end shocks.

In Figure 3 the support is shown, in the position it occupies in a box. The lamp is introduced into an outer collapsible box of any known form with the transverse folding centre line 2 of the blank arranged diagonally of the box and the longitudinal centre line 7 lying towards the opposite corners of the box. It will be understoodthat the usual within a carton or box assume a position as shown in Figure 5. In this case the scorings 5 may be dispensed with and the blank scored along the line 10 as shown in Figure 1. By folding the blank in this manner less protection is afforded for the spigot whilst added protection is given by the skirt portion to the bulb end of the'lamp.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8 theblank is provided with a circular orifice l9 and laterally extending creases 12 which terminate at their inner ends in a pair of spaced incisions 13. The blank is also provided with creasing lines 14 arranged at the extremities of the incisions 13 so as to form a central zone or is particularly adaptedfor supporting the base end of a wireless valve or thermionic tube. The portion of the blank situated be tween the creases 12 provides, when the blank is folded as shown in Figure 7, support for the reverse end of the valve. The blank is also formed with creasing lines 15 to enable it to be folded into an appropriate shape for inserting a box or carton as shown in Figure 8.

Adjacent each end of the blank a portion is cut away as shown at 16 and further creases are provided at 15 and 17' which extend from the cut away ortion 16 to the extreme edges of the blanx. That portion of the blank bounded by the creases 17 and the opening16 is thus capable of being folded inwardly towards the centreas shown in Fig:

ure 8 and in this position divisions into which the pins or legs of a valve may project will be provided. Y

The blank is adapted to be folded up in the manner previously described with refer-- ence to Figure l and may be inserted in a suitable box or carton as shown in plan view in Figure 8. The box or carton may be of the form in which tuck-in flaps are provided and when the blank is made to fit this type of box one end. thereof is cut away as shown at 18 so as to form accommodation or facilitate the insertion of the tuck-in flap at the end of the box.

In the further modified form of the invention shown in Figures 9 and 10 the blank is provided with laterally extending creasing lines 12 which terminate on their inner ends at an opening-19. The walls or edges 13 when the blank is folded about the creases 12 contact with the article and provide a support for one end thereof. The blank is also provided with central creasing lines 15", openings 16 andfurther creasing lines 17 extending from the extremities of the open ings 16 to the edges of the blank. The creasing lines 15 extend beyond the openings 16 to the edge of the blank and permit that portion of the blank between the opening 16' and the edge of the blank to'be folded in wardly into the position shown in Figure 10 and into contact with the valve pins 19'. It will be noted that in this form of the inven-' tion the central zone or cradle 21 shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8 is'dispensed with.

Havlng now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. An improved supporting unit fora fragile article comprising a blank folded to form a support for preventing all lateral movement of one end of an article anda section hinged to the blank at a point intermediate the ends thereof and extending away from said fold when the unit is erected, said section being adapted to support the other end of said article.

2. An improved supporting unit for a fragile article comprising a blank folded along a transverse centre line, means formed by said fold for supporting one end of the article-toprevent alf l'at-eralmovement thereof and other supporting means hinged at a point intermediate-the-end's ofthe blank oppositely directed with respect to said first mentioned means and adapted to support the other end of said article.

3. An improved supporting unit for a fragile article comprising a blank having creases extending transversely thereof, spaced supports for one end of an article preventing all lateral movement thereof, and a section hinged at a point intermediate the ends of the blank for supporting the other end of said article extending in opposite direction to said spaced supports when the unit is erected.

4. An improved supporting unit for a fragile article comprising a blank having creases extending V transversely thereof, spaced supports for one end of an article preventing all lateral movement thereof, a hinged section for supporting the other end of said article, and a skirt portion in two parts connected to said spaced supports and said hinged section.

5. An improved supporting unit for a fragile article comprising a blank folded to form a support for one end of an article preventing all lateral movement thereof, a section hinged at a point intermediate the ends of the blank and extending away from said fold when the unit is erected, said section having a platform to engage the other end of said article.

6. An improved supporting unit for a fragile article comprising a blank of recs tangular shape scored along a transverse centre line, spaced incisions extending longitudinally of said blank, creasing lines at the extremities of said spaced incisions, the blank being bent about said transverse centre line to provide a support for one end of an article, the portion of the blank between the spaced incisions extending away from said transverse centre line to provide a support for the other end of said article.

7. An improved supporting unit for an electric bulb comprising a blank'provided with spaced incisions permitting the central area of the blank to be separated into two sections extending in opposite directions, one of said sections having spaced portions adapted to engage opposite sides of the lamp at one end thereof and the other section having an opening in which the socket of the lamp is adapted to rest.

8. An improved supporting unit for thermiome tube comprising a blank provided with spaced incisions permitting the central area of the blank to be separated into two sections extending in opposite directions, one

of said sections having spaced portions engaging the bulb end of the tube, a skirt p0rtion,-theother of said sectionshaving aplatform engaging the base of thetube, an opening in said platform, and means on said skirt portion engaging the pins on the tube.

9'. An improved supporting unit for a fragile article comprising a blank having creases extendingtransversely thereof,

spaced supports-for one end of'an article preventing all lateral movement thereof, a hinged section attached to a pointintermediate the end of the foldcd' blank for supporting the other end of saidarticle extending in opposite direction tosaid spaced supports when the unit is erected and means for main tainingsaid support in its folded condition. I 10. An improved supporting unit for a fragile article comprising a blank having creases extending transversely thereof,

spaced supports for one end of an article preventing all lateral movementthereof, a

hinged section for supportingthe otheriend,

of said article, and a skirt portion in two parts connected; to said spaced supports-and section, having a platform to engage the other end of said article and means-for maintaining said support in itsfolded condition.

12; An improved supporting unit for a fragile article comprising a blank folded to form a support for one end of an article preventing all lateral movement thereof, a section hinged to'a point intermediate the ends of the folded blank extending away from said fold when the 'unit is erected, a skirt portion, inwardlyhfoldi-ng miembers formi'n'g part of said ski-rtportion andm-eansfor maintaining said support in its folded condition.

13 An improved supporting unit for a fragile'article comprising a blank of rectangular shape scored'along a transverse centre line, spaced incisions extendmg longitudinally of said blank, creasing lines at the extremities of said spaced incisions, the blank being bent about saidtransverse centre line to provide a support for one end of an article, the portion of the blank between the spaced incisions extending away from said transverse centre line toprovide a support for the other end of said article and means for maintaining said support in its foldedcondition.

lhAn improved supporting unit for an electric bulb comprising a blank provided with spaced incisions permitting the central area of the blank to be separated into two sections extending in opposite directions, one of said sections having spaced portions adapted to engage opposite sides of the lamp at one end thereof and the other section having an opening in which the socket of the lamp is adapted to rest and means for maintaining said support in its folded condition,

15. An improved supporting unit 'for a thermionic tube comprising a blank provided with spaced incisions permitting the central area of the blank to be separated into two sections extending in opposite directions, one of said sections having spaced portions en: gaging the bulb end of the tube, a skirt portion, the other of said sections having a platform engaging the base of the tube, an opening in said platform, means on said skirt portion engaging the pins on the tube and means for maintaining said support in its folded condition. 7

16. An improved supporting unit for a fragile article comprising a blank folded to form a support for one endof an article pre- I end of the blank may be bent inwardly to engage a projection on the article.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN REGINALD NORTHWAY-LEY- venting all lateral movement thereof, an

inner section extending away from said fold, an outer section extending away from said fold, an opening in said outer section and a crease extending from said opening longitudinally of the blank, whereby a portion of said outer section is adapted to engage a projection on the article tohold it.

17. An improved supporting unit for a fragile article comprising a blank folded along a transverse centre line and having means formed by said fold for supporting one end of the article and an opening in the blank located towards the end furthest from the fold, and a crease extending from said opening longitudinally of the blank whereby the end portion of the blank may be bent inwardly to engage a projection on the article to hold it. a

18. An improved supporting unit for a fragile article such as a thermionic tube comprising a blank of rectangular shape scored along a transverse centre line, the blank being bent about said transverse centre line to provide a support for one end of an'article andhaving a narrow transverse opening lo- ,cated towards the end of the blank furthest being bent about said transverse centre line to provide a support for one end of an article and havinga second opening located towards the end of the blank furthest from said centre line, and a crease extending from said second opening longitudinally of the blank whereby the portion between said opening and the 

